Association of myocardial infarction with stressful life events and psychiatric symptoms: a population-based survey.

Psychosocial factors such as depression, hostility, social isolation are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. We aimed to determine the association of psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial factors with myocardial infarction (Ml). We performed a secondary analysis of data from a population-based survey of Iranians aged 18-15 years using standardized psychosocial instruments. Of the 2158 participants, 51 had suffered an Ml. In univariate analysis: number of stressful life events, stressfulness, somatization, depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety and psychoticism were significantly associated with Ml(P < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression, interpersonal sensitivity (P= 0.047), phobic anxiety (P = 0.016) number of stressful life events (P= 0.054), stressfulness (P= 0.057) and age (P = 0.001) remained at significanty associated with Ml.